Gillett: Donington Could Still Host 2010 British Grand Prix

Simon Gillett today claimed that Donington Park could still host the 2010 British Grand Prix, despite his company failing to secure the finances to upgrade the Leicestershire circuit.

Rival circuit Silverstone is close to agreeing to a deal with Bernie Ecclestone to continue hosting the race after Gillett continually failed to meet deadlines and his obligations to Ecclestone.

Gillett's claims are even more delusional after his Donington Venture Leisure Ltd. recently slipped into administration as Eccleston pulled the 17-year contract and put the race back up to tender.

If his company is relying on investors just to stay afloat, his chances of getting any major financial backing from banks and other investment groups, after going into administration, are truly scuppered.

Gillet told the Guardian , "As far as I see it there are two tracks competing, so in my mind that makes it 50-50. As Bernie said last week, if someone comes in now and invests in Donington the chance is still there. The administrators are working hard, and if we had the money we would have the 17-year agreement."

“There are half a dozen people interested at the moment, from different backgrounds, with different ideas and intentions. From a location point-of-view and a fans’ point-of-view, everything about Donington makes it a viable circuit.”

Gillett's claims are once again lip service to Ecclestone, in the event that he is unhappy with the Silverstone negotiations. Of course, there is a local interest, the revenue that could be generated in the communities around Donington would be massive if the Grand Prix was there, but of course, the same can be said about retaining the race at Silverstone, where the local people will have benefited in some way for decades.

If Gillett had the money, he'd have the race? Sure, but the reason we're at this stage is because he didn't have the money, and could not secure the money to do even half of what he promised to deliver. Recession or not, many feel he wouldn't have been able to deliver.

Gillet's problems are now more than just financial. There is very little interest to take the race to Donington any more. Most F1 fans would prefer the race to stay at Silverstone, despite many of its faults. The drivers and teams would also prefer it to stay at Silverstone.

Politicians have also weighed in with support for Silverstone after members of the House of Commons Business, Innovation and Skills Committee visited the Northamptonshire circuit this week.

Committee chairman, Peter Luff MP said, “We were overwhelmed by the intensity of opinion, confirming the need to keep the Grand Prix at Silverstone.

“British motor-sport without the Grand Prix could wither on the wine and that would be just as damaging to Formula One as it would be to the industry.

“I therefore call on Bernie Ecclestone, Damon Hill and Richard Phillips to recognise their mutual interest, stand up for Britain and finalise a deal which is good for Silverstone, for Formula One, for the wider motor-sport industry and for our nation.”

For now, Gillett can keep dreaming, and wishing ill on everyone associated with the Silverstone deal. They may not get a 17-year deal, they may not even get a 10-year deal, but the most important thing here is that we do not lose the British Grand Prix, even for one year.

Other races have gone in recent years and come back. Think Belgium, and next year Canada. But some, including the Indianapolis GP, San Marino, and France have not. Britain cannot afford to lose out in the same way.

Silverstone has just over two weeks to secure the future of the race before the F1 Commission meets to finalise the race calendar for 2010

I think it's clear that if the British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC) can secure a five-year deal, bring in some investment, make the upgrades, and even operate at a short-term loss, that a bigger deal will arrive down the line that will make up for the initial deficit, secure the circuit's long-term future, and more importantly, the race's future for decades to come.